Jeremy Laszlo - The Choosing

"There are a couple of new outfits here in the trunk for each of you compliments of Emily and Rose, and some new boots as well. I’ve also made each of you a good sturdy pack for the trip south.” Samuel brimmed with pride. “I’ve given them to James to pack you some supplies for your trip.”

"Thank you both so much." Seth said.

“How could we resist for you boys?” Emily asked. “We can’t have you out traveling the world looking like beggars. As I always say, first impressions are the most important.”

This indeed was something they had heard her say several times and so both returned her smile.

“Rose and I have made you each two pair of new clothes, a heavy pair for the journey that should keep you warm and should not tear so easily, and a pair of dress clothes for The Choosing ceremony." Emily said with tears rimming her eyes.

“Rose will see you off in the morning with the others.” Emily started a little shakily. “She didn’t want to have to say good bye twice.”

The twins both nodded their understanding, each now with moisture clouding their vision. Rose and Emily had sort of taken the mothering role for the boys after their mom had passed away. Both boys knew they would miss their foster mothers when they left.

“Well boys.” Their father began to say. “I guess that just leaves me. I was gonna wait until morning but what with all the gifts I sort of feel left out.”

James walked out of the seating area and walked back behind the bar with all five sets of eyes following him. He bent his large body below the surface of the bar where no one could see him and rummaged around on one of the shelves concealed behind the bar. He stood back up bearing two packs, and two coin purses. Walking swiftly back to the seating area with his giant strides he stopped when he reached his twins and sat the packs down at their feet. Both packs were black leather one trimmed in blue the other in silver.

“I got you all packed up with food.” He said to both of them at once. “And you each have a blanket and towel.” He then held out the coin purses to them and before releasing them into his sons hands added.

“You each get ten silver from the community fund as with all the kids who leave for The Choosing. In addition to that I’ve added five silver each out of our savings.” This last part he said quite boisterously as he swelled with pride at himself.

“I expect that should be enough to get yourselves a room at a few inns along the way, and keep you fed, and if there is enough left over…” he trailed off for a moment holding back the tears that a man of his age and size shouldn’t show. “Use what’s left if you can, to send message back that you made it safely.” James ended quickly trying not to lose his composure. The only time that he had ever cried in front of his boys was when their mother had passed, and that he was sure neither of them could remember. He didn’t want to think that this could be the last memories he would ever make with his sons. Quickly then, James thrust out his hands with the coin purses giving one to each of the boys.

“Boys tell everyone thank you again, they have all worked very hard to make you these gifts. You need to be getting to bed you have a long journey ahead of you. I have to go attend to our customer.” James turned and strode across the room.

Everyone else had forgotten the young man at the opposite end of the common room seated quietly against the window. He was now reading a book, aimlessly tracing absent symbols on the table with his free hand. Trying his best not to eavesdrop, He looked up suddenly when James came between the lamp on the wall and his book. They spoke in hushed tones and James picked up the man’s mug and returned to the bar to refill it. After it was full he returned it to the man, again they spoke quietly and James turned and walked back across the room to his friends and sons. As James walked up the twins were just finishing telling everyone good night and thanking them all again several times for the gifts.

“The boy’s name is Ashton.” James stated. “He is from Glenvale. He says if you guys don’t mind he would like to hit the road with you in the morning, he too is going to The Choosing.”

Both boys nodded to their father, and then to Ashton across the room, who was watching them patiently. Almost simultaneously the boys said:

“Good night dad.”

“You go ahead Garret. I need to speak to your brother for a moment.” James said.

"Sure thing dad." Garret replied.

James, Emily, Samuel, and Jack watched as Garret turned to walk down the hall towards his room, carrying with him all his new belongings. They all smiled at Garret’s retreating steps, knowing they would be missed, knowing they had given the boy all they could to prepare him for whatever might lay ahead.

"Seth why don't you take a seat." James said pointing to the chair he himself had sat in just moments before.

Seth looked around to the faces of his friends and neighbors before taking a seat, his father's tone frightened him and the fact that none of them would meet his gaze troubled him deeply. Preparing himself for the worst he sat down as his father had instructed and waited for whatever it was that his father intended to say.

"I wouldn't do this if I didn't feel I had to Seth."James said taking a moment to get his emotions in check and focus his thoughts. "You know that everyone here loves you like their own child, we are all your family, and any one of us including your brother would lay down their life rather than see you in pain."

Now Seth began to become afraid in earnest, he was not sure of where this conversation was leading, but nothing about his father's tone nor the grim faces in the room bode anything positive. Seth began to shake from nervousness but tried to hold on to some semblance of control to hear what it was that his father was trying to tell him.

"Starting tomorrow it’s just going to be you and your brother looking out for one another, and the gods know your brother is going to need some looking out for with his grand dreams of battle and all." James said.

Seth let out a sigh of relief and even managed to smile a little at his father's comment. This wasn't any new information, in fact Seth had been thinking the same thing earlier in the evening. He nodded his understanding to his father and sat silently letting James continue. James stood a second seeming to steady himself and gather his thoughts. He was a large man both tall and muscular so Seth found it odd that he looked so worn. Where he usually stood tall, his broad shoulders held back as if daring the world to face him, now he stood slumped, eyes downcast, ashamed.

"You're a wonderful young man and we are all very proud of you, and I know if your mother was here today she wouldn't be able to let either of you go tomorrow." With his last statement James nearly lost his resolve and his voice faltered slightly. He could barely keep his emotions at bay.

"What I'm meaning to tell you Seth…" James paused looking to his friends for support. All of them had tears in their eyes, and Emily was openly weeping by this point. Taking a deep breath James continued.

"Seth, Garret isn't your brother, I'm not your father, and your mother wasn't your mother." James barely finished with a sob as he lost control of his emotions.

Seth sat open mouthed, tears streaming from his eyes and just shook his head in disbelief. All eyes were on him, every look a mask of pain and sorrow. Seth could hardly breathe and it felt as if in a single moment his entire life was stripped away, if it had even been his life to begin with. Seth could find no reasoning to his father's words, the repeated over and over again in his head but just did not ring true.

"What do you mean dad? That's not possible we're twins, how could we possibly not be brothers?" Seth asked.